Michael Biercuk

Dr. Michael J. Biercuk is an experimental physicist and the Primary Investigator in the Quantum Control Laboratory at the University of Sydney. He holds a continuing (tenured) teaching and research appointment in the Faculty of Science at Sydney. Michael’s specialties include quantum physics, quantum control, quantum error suppression, ion trapping, nanoelectronics, and precision metrology.

Michael was educated in the United States, earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and his Master’s and Doctoral degrees from Harvard University. Following receipt of the PhD Michael served as a full-time scientific consultant to DARPA, the premier research funding agency in the United States, where he specialized in quantum information science and nanophotonic-enabled microprocessor architectures. He then returned to the laboratory when he assumed a postdoctoral research appointment in the Ion Storage Group at NIST, Boulder. In this capacity he led efforts in quantum control and spin squeezing using Beryllium ion crystals in a Penning trap.

Today, Michael runs a research group performing cutting-edge experiments using trapped atomic ions as a model quantum system. His expertise has been recognized by numerous technical appointments, awards, and media appearances. He is a regular contributor to both the technical literature and the popular press, providing expert commentary on issues pertaining to science policy and the role of science in society.